Path clearing goes on in wake of storm

Monday

Feb 11, 2013 at 6:00 AMFeb 11, 2013 at 12:16 PM

By Scott J. Croteau TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Residents and municipalities Sunday continued to dig their way out of the mess left behind by the weekend blizzard. Meantime, snow is falling in some parts of Central Massachusetts this morning, making for slippery road conditions during the commute.

Roads became narrow and many sidewalks were impassable as the plowed snow simply piled up. Pedestrians braved slippery, slushy travel in the road, and snowbanks piled high, making nosing out into intersections tough for many drivers. Mountainous snow piles took up residence in shopping plaza lots.

Facebook posts from the Worcester Department of Public Works and Parks attracted their own wintry mix of praise for a herculean effort and complaints about plowing and pleas for service.

As Central Massachusetts cleans up, people should expect the snow to melt slowly over the next few days. Combined with anticipated rain today, the weather could make driving and walking slick, with pooling of water in some areas.

Schoolchildren in several area communities won't have to risk it, however. In Worcester, Superintendent Melinda J. Boone late Sunday afternoon made the call to cancel school today. Anticipated bad weather, combined with the condition of many roads and sidewalks, prompted the decision, according to a statement. According to city officials, all school parking lots and entryways have been cleared of snow, and school is expected to resume Tuesday.

Total snowfall amounts released Sunday morning by the National Weather Service said Worcester was hit with 28.7 inches, the third largest in the city on record. Spencer appeared to have received the most snow, with reports of 31 inches. Fitchburg came in with 30.2 inches, according to a trained spotter for the National Weather Service.

Official totals could take a couple of days to confirm.

Temperatures rose into the 30s Sunday, but sleet and a little bit of snow appear to be coming today, said Bill Simpson, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Taunton.

“The rain is going to act like a lubricant,” he said Sunday morning. “There will be areas of poor drainage and probably some pooling in local areas.”

The snow pack will absorb some of the rain, but roads could become slick, he said.

Those clearing snow from rooftops are asked to be careful, but rain could make the snow heavier on roofs, officials said.

Many side roads across Central Massachusetts are still being cleaned up, but well-traveled highways appear to be in good shape. Crews were on Interstate 290 removing snow from the breakdown lanes Sunday morning.

Robert L. Moylan Jr., Worcester's Department of Public Works and Parks commissioner, said he was pleased with the progress the storm cleanup made on Sunday. He said all the main arteries were scraped to bare pavement, including busy roads like Chandler Street and Pleasant Street, which had been packed with snow.

He said crews made progress with residential streets, acknowledging that “plowing wasn't perhaps as perfect as we would have liked it.”

But he said by 4 p.m. streets that require sanding were sanded, and important arteries such as Lake Avenue, East and West Mountain streets, and Belmont Streets were widened.

A city ordinance requires residents and business owners to shovel sidewalks that run along their frontage, and Mr. Moylan, while reiterating that there are no real exceptions, acknowledged that patience between residents and the city works both ways. The ordinance is not to be ignored, but he said he knows people are having a tough time shoveling out.

The weather today may complicate cleanup, but Mr. Moylan said above-freezing temperatures predicted for later in the week would be helpful.

About 250 pieces of equipment were deployed by the city during the day Sunday. Mr. Moylan said some workers had been working about 36 hours straight and needed to be given a break.

With rain in the forecast for today, Mr. Moylan asked people living near catch basins to clear them if they can. He also asked people to dig out fire hydrants, a plea made by state fire officials as well.

Mr. Moylan, who was in charge of snowplowing in the Grafton Hill and Vernon Hill areas during the Blizzard of '78, said this storm doesn't compare.

“The 1978 blizzard was the mother of all blizzards,” he said.

It took a week or so to open up some residential streets in 1978, he said. The mobility for people back then was severely limited, unlike this storm.

“Here it is a day after the storm, and you can get anywhere in the city easily,” Mr. Moylan said Sunday.

City Manager Michael V. O'Brien said all city departments, the National Guard, National Grid and others worked together to keep the city safe during the storm.

“Mother Nature's fury is no match for great planning, solid emergency and snow removal responses and an amazing team,” he said. “I am very proud of our efforts and response and even more proud and grateful to those that gave and continue to give 150 percent to address all issues related to Nemo. I consider myself blessed to have such dedicated folks working for and on behalf of the city.”

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency requested mutual aid from Worcester to help with snow cleanup in Boston. Mr. O'Brien said while Worcester's condition improves, it will be a couple of days before any crews can be freed up.

Worcester State University canceled day classes and activities for today as snow cleanup continues. The campus will remain closed and all academic buildings along with the gym will be locked. An announcement about night classes will be made by noon. Students may return to the residence halls at 6 p.m. today.

On Sunday, Logan International Airport officials said airlines are beginning to build back flight schedules but delays and cancellations are still occurring. People are encouraged to check their airlines on flight status.

The Worcester Regional Transit Authority said buses were running Sunday.

Fire officials warned people about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. Worcester Deputy Fire Chief Geoffrey Gardell said a boy died in Boston Saturday when he got into his father's car while it was being cleaned up.

The car's exhaust pipe was covered, and the car filled with carbon monoxide. Deputy Chief Gardell warned people to make sure the exhaust pipe is clear while starting and digging out cars.

“It doesn't take much. The small space of a car's interior fills up quickly with a deadly amount of carbon monoxide,” Deputy Chief Gardell said.

The state fire marshal's office reminds people to clear outside furnace, hot water and dryer vents of snow to prevent flue gases from backing up into homes. The backup will cause carbon monoxide to enter homes.

Worcester fire officials are still investigating the cause of a Saturday morning fire at 82 Pleasant St., a home that was vacant.